Improvement in automatic railroad-signals



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AUTOMATIC RAILROAD SIG-NALS.

Na.181,012, Patented Aug.15,1876.

N.PETERS| FHOTO-UTHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON, D C

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN E. ROSS, OF PAWTUOKET, RHODE ISLAND.

- IMPROVEMENT IN AUiiOMATiC RAILROAD-SIGNALS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 181,012, dated August 15, 1876 application tiled March 13, 1876.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN E. ROSS, of Pawtucket, in the State of Rhode Island, have invented a new and useful Automatic Railroad Watchman and Signal; and Ido herebydeclare that the following speciication, taken in conneetion with the drawing making a part of the same, is a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

Figure 1 is a view, in perspective, of my invention. Fig. 2 shows the mechanism for operating weight; Fig. 3, section showing inside of Weight-case.

The object of lny invention is to provide a means for signaling the approach of trains at railroad-crossings and closing the crossings, which may be easily and quickly operated; and consists in the mechanism hereinafter described.

A B is a suitable frame, erected over the crossing upon either side ot' the railroad-track; and consists of parallel upright posts, surmounted by parallel horizontal cross-pieces, as shown in Fig. 1. Between each pair ot' upright posts is a case, O, resting upon a stationary fulcrum, and having an arm or bar,D, extending inward nearly to the center, from which is suspended a tlag, E, or other device best adapted to attract attention. The case O contains a stationary Weight, R, which counterbalances the bar D, and a movable Weight, Q, sliding horizontally in a groove, S. The movable Weights Q are connected by chains to the pulleys L beneath the ground, and the pulleys L are attached to pulleys K, moving upon the same center. Motion imparted to one set of pulleys,\M,N.is reversed upon the other through the intermediate pulleys L K, so that the Weights Q will always move trom or toward each other. The pulleys M N are operated by the levers P, which, in turn, are operated by a pulleyupon the engine, which strikes and raises the spring H, and, consequently, the lever P attached thereto.

Having thus set forth the essential features of my invention, I will now proceed to describeits operation, commencing with the parts in the position shown by the dotted lines, Fig. 1. Upon the approach ot' the train o cars, the

spring-board G and spring H being located at a convenient distance from the crossing, the pulley upon the engine raises the spring H, which raises the lever I), and, through the arrangement ot' pulley; and chains before described, the Weights Q are moved forward toward each other until they pass the center ot' the case C, when the bars D fall into the position shown in Fig. 1, and may be readily seen by any one 'approaching After the train has passed and the engine reaches a similar springboard, G, and spring H, the pulley upon the engine strikes and raises up the latter in like manner, which moves the levers P, and carries the weights Q outward and past the center of the case C, which causes the bars D to be thrown back or up into their former position, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1. The Weight Q, instead of running in a straight line, may be caused to change its position by running around a circle.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The sliding weight Q and the case C, combined and operating together in the manner and for the purposes specified.

2. The combination ot' the spring-board Gr and H and levers P, and the pulleys N M L K, the whole arranged and operating together for the purpose of communicating motion to the weight Q.

JOHN EDWARDS ROSS.

Witnesses:

Trios. W. ROBINSON, CEAS. M. Ross. 

